Hosting an outdoor event is always a crapshoot, especially when it comes to Minnesota’s famously unpredictable spring weather. Sometimes it rains on our parade. That was, unfortunately, the case with last night’s “Summer Breeze” fashion show presented by the local chapter of Fashion Group International and produced by Sandy Simmons. It was meant to take place, poolside, on the Calhoun Beach Club’s swanky rooftop at dusk, but inclement weather put a damper on the evening.
But, as they say, the show must go on. The event moved indoors, to the unusual site of the club’s downstairs gym, complete with a pop-up bar and runway. While it certainly lacked the intended glamour of a poolside, rooftop fashion show, the show’s producers were doing the best they could do given the circumstances. (Though, given some additional notice, it would have been apropos to see some gym-inspired fashions on display.)
Following a short belly dancing performance, the first half of the show showcased poolside-appropriate looks from a handful of local boutiques, including MINQ, MartinPatrick3, Atmosfere, Motto, Tommy Bahama and Bumbershute. Top trends included printed denim, crop tops, ethnic prints and print-on-print combinations.
A second segment focused on swim looks exclusively from swimwear shop Nani Nalu, modeled by Minnesota Timberwolves dancers. Fanciful floral headwear gave the looks some runway drama.
All in all, FGI and Simmons put on a well-produced event, despite the less-than-glamorous setting. But I have to admit, the most inspiring part of the show was the stunning diversity on display with the models, down to some natural, Afro-ed coifs–something the Twin Cities fashion scene, and the fashion industry in general, is seriously lacking.
A look from MINQ
A look from Tommy Bahama
A look from Bumbershute
Photos by A.J. Olmscheid
